Aurora Colony Museum News

Aurora Colony Museum

Aurora Colony Historical Society

March 2025

In this Issue:

Annual Meeting & Presentation: Saving History Beam by Beam (3/15)

Exbibit Opening: Deadly & Dangerous Fashion (3/15-9/30)

Antique Spinning Wheel Showcase (3/8 & 3/9)

Volunteer Opportunities!

Welcoming Visitors from Bleicherode, Germany (August)

Colony Curiosities: Fun facts, curious tidbits, & Colony questions

Save the Date: Emma Day with Jane Kirkpatrick (June 11)

Preserving Aurora's Legacy with your Help!

Event Calendar

Annual Meeting & Special Presentation:

Saving History Beam by Beam: The Art of Barn Relocation

Saturday, March 15 at 10:30am

The Aurora Colony Historical Society invites you to our Annual Membership Meeting. This event provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year, discuss our ongoing strategic initiatives, and hear from a special guest speaker.

This year’s program will feature Lee Hebert, Jr. of Historical Salvage & Design, LLC, presenting Saving History Beam by Beam: The Art of Barn Relocation. Hebert will share insights into the process of relocating historic barns, including a recent project moving a structure from Wilsonville to Hood River. We are thrilled to have Hebert working on the Stauffer-Will property this year.

Light refreshments and complimentary wine will be provided.

Admission:

• Free for ACHS members
• $10 for non-members

Your ticket will also get you in to the Aurora Colony Museum for the unveiling of the newest exhibit, Dangerous & Deadly Fashion following the annual meeting.

To RSVP or for more information, email [email protected], or call 503-678-5754. Click to become a member today!

Dangerous & Deadly Fashion- New Exhibit Opening March 15th

Fashion isn’t always fabulous—sometimes, it’s fatal. Dangerous & Deadly uncovers the hidden hazards lurking in historic fashion and beauty trends. From toxic dyes and lethal cosmetics to the destruction of entire species for style, this exhibit reveals the shocking risks people once took in the name of fashion.

Explore the dangers of:

Poisonous Pigments – Arsenic-laced greens and purples used in clothing and accessories.

Vicious Vanity – Harmful chemicals in cosmetics and hair treatments.

Beastly Beauty – The devastating impact of the feather and fur industries.

Perilous Proportions – Corsets, restrictive shoes, and other body-altering garments.

Each section also connects these past perils to modern-day counterparts—proving that dangerous fashion isn’t just history.

Visit us starting March 15th and discover when looks killed—and how fashion’s dark side still lingers today!

Learn More

Welcoming Visitors from Bleicherode, Germany!

Mark your calendars for a special Colony Days, August 7-9, 2025! Visitors from Bleicherode, Germany—Dr. Wilhelm Keil’s birthplace—will be joining the festivities as part of Aurora’s new sister-city partnership. Special thanks to Donald Kunz, whose research into Dr. Keil’s early history helped bring our communities together.

Special thanks to Donald Kunz for connecting the cities and hi

Help us put our best foot forward! Museum supporters and descendants can contribute by sponsoring sprucing-up efforts around the museum to ensure we give our guests a warm welcome. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and to learn more about Bleicherode!

Colony Curiosities

Help Us Unearth Colony Curiosities!

We’re launching a new section in our newsletter—and we need your input! Do you have a burning question about the Aurora Colony? A curious tidbit passed down through your family? A fun fact you think others would enjoy?

Send in your questions and stories, and we’ll feature them in upcoming issues! Let’s explore the fascinating details of our shared history together.

Submit a Curiosity or Question

Preserving Aurora’s Legacy—With Your Help!

The Aurora Colony Historical Society relies on your generosity to keep our shared history alive. There’s still time to join our Annual Appeal and make a meaningful impact!

Right now, we have a special opportunity to restore the historic Giesy Store roof. Thanks to two grants—one of which requires matching funds—your donation can double its impact in preserving this important piece of Aurora’s past.

Looking for a lasting way to support the museum? Consider Planned Giving, which allows you to leave a legacy while ensuring the continued care of our collections, historic buildings, and educational programs. Learn more about how you can make a lasting difference: AuroraColony.org/donate.

Every gift, no matter the size, helps keep Aurora’s history alive for future generations. Thank you for being part of our story!

Event Calendar:

March 8-9 Antique Spinning Wheel Showcase

March 15 Annual Meeting

Mar. 15-Sep. 30 Dangerous & Deadly Fashion Exhibit Opening

June 11 Emma Day with Jane Kirkpatrick

June 18 Public Days at Stauffer-Will Farm

June 19 Summer Speaker Series

Jun. 18 Public Days at Stauffer-Will Farm

July 12 Public Days at Stauffer-Will Farm

July 31 Aurora Colony Summer Speaker Series

Aug. 8 Aurora Colony Biergarten

Aug. 10 Colony Days Living History Day

Sep. 6 Party at the Farm: Annual Fundraising Dinner & Auction

Sep. 25 Summer Speaker Series

Oct. 10-19 Puttin’ on the Ritz Quilt Show